Vanka
1. What is the purpose of Vanka's writing?
To tell his grandfather of what he's going through and how he wanted to get away from there.
2. Where is Vanka's home? How does he think of home?
His home is a place where his grandfather is. For Vanka, home is where he can be himself where no one slaves him - a place where people loves him and not beating him.
3. Describe Vanka's grandfather.
He is so old and lean. He's the only family left for Vanka.
4. Why has Vanka been sent to Aliakhin in Moskow? What responsibilities are given to him? Does he meet these responsibilities? Why or why not?
Because he can't take care for Vanka anymore, he is too old for taking care of a 9 year old boy. He is an apprentice for shoe-making. In some reasons, he did. But his master is not satisfied for his work, so he end up being beaten.
5. How is Vanka treated by his master and mistress? By others in the house? Cite instances.
They're cruel and mean to Vanka and also with other people in the house. Example, this stanza from his letter, "And yesterday I had such a hiding. The master took me by the hair and dragged me out into the yard and beat me with the stirrup-strap because by mistake I went to sleep rocking their baby. And one day last week the mistress told me to gut a herring and I began from the tail and she picked up the herring and rubbed my face with the head. The other apprentices make fun of me, they send me to the tavern for vodka and make me steal the masters cucumbers and the master beats me with the first thing he finds. And there is nothing to eat. They give me bread in the morning and gruel for dinner and in the evening bread again but I never get tea or cabbage soup they gobble it all rip themselves. And they make me sleep in the passage and when their baby cries I dont get any sleep at all I have to rock it. Dear Grandad for the dear Lords sake take me away from here take me home to the village I cant bear it any longer. Oh Grandad I beg and implore you and I will always pray for you do take me away from here or I'll die. . . ."
6. Do you think that Vanka's grandfather will take him back? Why or why not?
Maybe yes, because Vanka wouldn't be burden at all for him. Vanka can help him to gain for their living and besides, he's his grandson.
7. What does the story say about children? What does it say about adults? What social problem does it project?
Children should be treated nicely, they may fail to do their chores but they're doing their best. This problem affects the society in many ways. When this children who are abused can be the future abusers. That's why children should be loved, not abused.
Hope Is The Thing With Feather
1. Metaphor is a figure of speech which two things that are not of the same class are classified are compared in a suggestive way. What is the poet's metaphor for hope?
The poet's metaphor for hope is a bird. Because the thing or the feeling is referred to a bird.
2.Why does the poet say "the thing with feathers"? What difference would it make if she used the article "a" instead of "the"?
He used article "the" instead of "a" because he is referring in a specific thing. If he uses "a", people may think of different definition of hope and not to the one he is referring.
3. How is this "thing with feathers" special compared to the ordinary kind?
Because this "thing with feathers" is free and it's pure. It can be found anywhere. It survives any season.
4. To what does "Gale" in the line 5 refer? Why does this "thing with feathers" sing sweetest in the gale? With what word in the sixth line is "gale" related?
The "Gale" refers to the strong winds. The "thing with feathers" sings sweetest in the gale because even how strong the gale was, it can still stand through it and it can still fly.
5. Say in your own words line 6, 7, and 8.
On the most extreme storm, it affects the "thing with feathers". If it will feel ashamed or abashed, how can it overcome the storm? And if it keeps so warm, would it help or not?
6. To what does "the chillest land" refer in line 9? Why does this "thing with feathers" sing here?
The poet's metaphor for hope is a bird. Because the thing or the feeling is referred to a bird.
2.Why does the poet say "the thing with feathers"? What difference would it make if she used the article "a" instead of "the"?
He used article "the" instead of "a" because he is referring in a specific thing. If he uses "a", people may think of different definition of hope and not to the one he is referring.
3. How is this "thing with feathers" special compared to the ordinary kind?
Because this "thing with feathers" is free and it's pure. It can be found anywhere. It survives any season.
4. To what does "Gale" in the line 5 refer? Why does this "thing with feathers" sing sweetest in the gale? With what word in the sixth line is "gale" related?
The "Gale" refers to the strong winds. The "thing with feathers" sings sweetest in the gale because even how strong the gale was, it can still stand through it and it can still fly.
5. Say in your own words line 6, 7, and 8.
On the most extreme storm, it affects the "thing with feathers". If it will feel ashamed or abashed, how can it overcome the storm? And if it keeps so warm, would it help or not?
6. To what does "the chillest land" refer in line 9? Why does this "thing with feathers" sing here?
Because even how cold a land would be, the hope still keeps its warmth. There's still hope no matter what.
7. To what does "strangest sea" refer? Why does this "thing with feathers" also sing here?
The strangest sea refers to a place where you don't expect a hope to exist. It also sing there because hope comes to where you don't expect it.
8. What do the last two lines mean?
When you needed hope, it doesn't ask anything in return. Hope doesn't poke you or talk to you when it needs you, it's up to you whether to give something in return or not.
9. Is the poet's metaphor for hope true? Explain.
When you needed hope, it doesn't ask anything in return. Hope doesn't poke you or talk to you when it needs you, it's up to you whether to give something in return or not.
9. Is the poet's metaphor for hope true? Explain.
Yes, because hope is everywhere. No matter what we're going through, Hope will surely be heard.
The Return
1. Who speaks in the poem? On what occasion does he speak?
The speaker himself. He tells the reader about his experience on his return.
2. Read the lines that indicate the time of the day when the event happens.
1. Who speaks in the poem? On what occasion does he speak?
The speaker himself. He tells the reader about his experience on his return.
2. Read the lines that indicate the time of the day when the event happens.
It was Dawn...
"Cliffs of scarlet cloud gleam in the west;
The sun's feet are sinking beneath earth"
3. Why does the speaker call himself a stranger?
Because he was gone for so long and he returned after so many years.
4. What does "a thousand li" signify?
A thousand li signifies the distance of how far he was from his wife.
5. Why is the wife astonished that he still exist?
Because he left her for many years and never expect him that he's still alive.
6. Explain the line "I was drifting sand in the wind of the world's anger."
He is clueless on what to do in this world.
7. Why are the neighbor at the gate?
Because they're also astonished he's still alive. And they've come to see him.
8. What is meant by the last two lines?
After so many years that passed, they're both glad to see each other again and be together.
9. What is the dominant emotion that the poem expresses?
For me, it was joy/gladness. Because the wife is so glad when his husband returned and alive. Even he left her for so long, she still welcomed her husband's return.
10. How does the poem relate to the poet's own life experience?
As written in the description, Tu Fu went through a period of poverty and hunger and wandered around. May be, this poem is written to tell how his return went. And he returned happy because he was fully accepted.
